Some Doctors Still Make House Calls

There is a growing number of doctors in the U.S. who make house calls to elderly and disabled patients. Patients with limited mobility often end up in the emergency room when they become ill, so doctors who make house calls help relieve the burden on overcrowded emergency rooms. They also help patients save money in the long run – emergency room visits are more costly than doctor visits overall. This cost savings has prompted Medicare to encourage doctors to make house calls by reimbursing them at higher rates, but the demand for home care still exceeds the supply.